The system fell into disfavour after Melbourne won the 1900 VFL premiership, despite finishing the home-and-away season sixth out of eight clubs.
To counteract reduced public interest and gate takings when a season had a runaway leader, the Victorian Football League (VFL) had introduced finals in 1897, ensuring the premiership would remain undecided until the end of the year.
This possibility was recognised from the beginning,[5] and it took only three years for these fears to be realised: Melbourne winning the VFL premiership 1900 from sixth place out of eight on the home-and-away ladder, and only the fifth-best overall record with all matches included.
There was also confusion over the allocation of the minor placings – whether it should be based on overall win–loss record, or the convention of the team which lost the grand final being runners-up.
[8] The system was the first to introduce the term "minor premiership", which is still widely used in modern Australian sports for the team on top the ladder after a home-and-away season.